CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, January 13, 1997
3A
Nigerian leaders seek permanent democracy
Political leader brings goodwill tour to Lawrence
By Doug Weinstein
Kansan staff writer
By Doug Weinstein
The leaders of Nigeria's political parties are touring the United States, spreading the message that they want their government to become a permanent democracy.
Friday night in the Lawrence Holiday Inn Holidome, Magaji Abdullahi, a senator of the National Center Party of Nigeria, addressed a crowd of about 40 people. Abdullahi is on a goodwill tour of Missouri and Kansas.
"We want to tell the truth of what is happening in the motherland," Abdullahi said.
The Americo-Nigerian Progressive Association Inc. of Lawrence sponsored the event.
integration, the military was asked to step in. It has held power since then.
In his speech, Abdullah said that since Nigeria became an independent democratic country in 1960, Nigeria's government has changed from military to civilian rule three times. In 1993, while the Nigerian government was on the verge of dis
But Abdullahi said Nigerians are very optimistic about their future because General Sani Abacha, Nigeria's current leader, has begun a transition to democracy.
"The trend is for democracy, and Nigeria can't be different," Abdulahi said. "A government by the people and for the people."
"We want to tell the truth of what is happening
He said that in order to change, Nigeria must stop what has happened in the past from happening again. "There has to be a unity of the political classes," he said.
Peter Gitau, a Kenyan graduate teaching assistant in African/African-American studies, said that the tour was positive for Africans who attend the University of Kansas.
Because of weather conditions,
Abdullahi is one of the five national chairmen of the registered political parties in Nigeria. He was joined in Lawrence by Alhaji Isa Mohammed of the United Nigeria Congress Party, Abe Ubeku of the Congress for National Consensus, Alhaji Gambo Lawal of the Grass Roots Democratic Movement and Alhaji Sule Ahmed of the Democratic Party of Nigeria.
"It allows us to stay connected to the homeland," he said.
in the motherland. "
Senator Magaji Abdullahi of the National Center Party of Nigeria addresses a group of 40 people at the Lawrence Holiday Inn Holdome Friday evening. Abdullahi stressed the importance of continuing Nigerian democracy encouraged Americans to help.
Eric B. Howell / KANSAN
Magaji Abdullah National Center Party of Nigeria Senator
only two of the five chairmen attended the dinner.
The national chairmen arrived at Kansas City International Airport Friday morning. They received honorary citizenship from Emmanuel Cleaver, mayor of Kansas City, Mo.
Lawrence has had a chapter of the America-Nigerian Progressive Association Inc. since September. The organization has 15 members. There are also chapters on the East Coast and in Lincoln, Neb.
James Baucom, vice president for the East Coast region and a KU graduate, co-sponsored the tour with KU student Aminu Gusau. Baucom said
it was important for KU students to get a better understanding of a changing Nigeria and for the United States to pursue positive trade relations with the country.
Baucom encouraged students to talk to their senators about the issue.
"You can directly impact policy," he said. Last year, retired Sen.
Nancy Kassebaum Baker invited Gusau to a hearing where he lobbied for lifting U.S. sanctions against Nigeria.
Puck-er up
Chris Hamilton / KANSAN
Ryan Sparks, San Diego, Calif., senior, reaches for the puck as he and a friend play hockey together at Buford M. Watson Jr. Park. The park has a small area that has collected water and frozen over, giving students and Lawrence residents a place to play ice skating or hockey.
New name,courses for honors program
By Mark McMaster
Kansan staff writer
This year the honors program at the University of Kansas will not only be celebrating 40 years of operation but also a new name.
the program, which offers advising and special courses for exceptional students, will soon be renamed the University Honors Program, program director Barbara Schowen said.
For 40 years, the program has operated as the College Honors Program because of its affiliation with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Although "College" will be dropped from the name, the program still will be part of the college.
"It is really just formalizing something that people have understood all along," said Sally Frost-Mason, dean of the college. "It's a University-wide honors program, not specific to any school."
Schowen said the name change is intended to show that the program serves all University students, not just those in the college. Many architecture and engineering students, as well as pre-professional students, participate.
Program leaders hope to expand the program's role. Mary Klayder assistant director of the program said one goal is to increase coordination with the professional schools so that the program will have a more inclusive feel.
The program also is expanding its ties within the college, adding a number of classes from departments and professors new to the program.
Other new honors courses include a mathematics class taught from a historical perspective, studying the greatest achievements in math, and an introductory physics course that stresses concepts rather than mathematical problem solving.
"We do have more honors students this year, especially incoming freshmen, so we've tried to work with the faculty to teach new courses," Schowan said.
"We've had a wonderful response from other departments," Schowen said, noting that honors courses are being offered for the first time in cartography and Slavic studies.
Part of the drive to expand the number of honors courses is due to an increase in enrollment in the program.
"There have been lots of good ideas all along, and we've always had more ideas than we could actually do at once," she said.
Schowen said the number of honors English courses nearly doubled.
As for the future, Schowen said the program could continue to grow in many ways.
Regents seeks $12 million for computer upgrades
Kansan staff writer
Technology fee proposed
By Dave Morantz
KU students may be burdened with another fee next semester if the Board of Regents imposes a technology fee on students.
Grey Montgomery, student body president, said that he supports the concept of a technology fee to keep Kansas universities competitive with peer schools, but that he is uncomfortable with forcing students to pay the cost.
The Regents are considering implementing the fee to pay for the purchase of new technology equipment and the maintenance of existing equipment. The amount students would have to pay is uncertain.
Montgomery said that he supports this proposal but worries that the money will soon run out and students will again be forced to provide more money in fees.
Under a current proposal, the Regents are requesting $12 million to fund technology systems.
Phil Cauthou, Fort Worth, Texas, junior agreed with Montgomery. He said that although he already pays a $15 per-credit-hour technology fee for computer science classes, he understands the need for more money for technology equipment.
"I'd rather not pay any more fees, but if there is one fee that can be justified, it's a computer fee," he said. "That stuff has to be
Under Montgomery's proposal, student fees would be allocated by the board, and the state would fund twice the amount of money raised in student fees. A formal proposal for the student allocation board is due sometime in March, he said.
Montgomery and Chris Hansen, Kansas State University's student body president, will attend the Council of Business Affairs meeting Wednesday in Topeka to discuss the creation of a student allocation board. The Council is made up of the chief financial officers of the Regents schools.
Montgomery said that he advocates an ongoing fund that would endure the rapid advancement of technology.
He also supports the creation of a student allocation board, which would allow students to help decide where money raised through student fees would go.
upgraded so often that students almost have to pay a fee to keep the technology current."
Jerry Niebaum, executive director for information technology services, said that he supports cooperation between students and the state.
"I'd like to see it be a joint effort between the students and the state to keep our technology equipment competitive," he said.
But some KU students are opposed to paying a fee for technology.
"I think we're already paying enough for tuition," said Owen Nash, Chicago, Ill., senior. "The interest of the University should be with the financial capability of the students."
Fearing future competition Terra Nova closes doors
By Paul Eakins
A second locally owned bookstore has gone out of business because of the threat posed by the incoming Borders chain bookstore in downtown Lawrence.
Kansan staff writer
Brad Hebel, co-owner of Terra Nova Books, said the store decided to close rather than compete with Borders.
Terra Nova Books, 920 Massachusetts St. officially closed on Dec. 31 and had its final sale on Saturday, auctioning all remaining inventory, from books to lambs to bookshelves.
"It's difficult enough, even in the best of times, to make money with a bookstore," Hebel said.
A major difference between a corporate-owned store like Borders and independent stores like Terra Nova is the financial support available. Hebel said. If a corporate store loses 20 percent of its business, it can stay alive, he said.
"But if Borders takes 20 percent of our business, we don't have the money to deal with that kind of setback," Hebel said.
One year ago another independent downtown bookstore, Adventure, also closed because of the threat of Borders.
"We had read about and knew of smaller stores in other cities put out of business by Borders," said Mary Michener, former owner of Adventure.
She decided to close the store before Borders opened. Michener said that independent bookstores seldom reaped large profits.
Stores like tis are how I find out what's available," said Jenny Selig, Manhattan junior. "Big stores could order books, but how do you find out about them in the first place? I'm not interested in bookstores that are just carrying big-name books."
"Borders will be sending its earnings out of Lawrence," she said, so the money will not be reinvested in local businesses.
Michener said she thought Borders was a good resource for the public but that it had drawbacks as well.
"We're right on the edge of the time," she said. "We don't make much money; we do it out of love."
Others think Borders will be beneficial to Lawrence.
Many patrons who attended the final sale at Terra Nova were disappointed that it was closing and had mixed feelings about the opening of Borders.
"Borders will attract more people. It's good for everybody," said David Longhurst, president of Downtown Lawrence Inc.
The only way for a local bookstore to compete is to be specialized. Michener said, which could be difficult.
"It would be hard to specialize so much that Borders doesn't also have these books," she said.
"Used bookstores are unique in that you can find books that you would not be able to find elsewhere," he said.
Dennis Rosebaugh, owner of Dean's Books, 1115 Massachusetts St., said he did not think used bookstores such as his would be affected by Borders.
said. Some people think that the quality and variety of books offered to the public will be reduced because of Borders.
"Because of the demand, stores want to sell front-list books, not mid-liste, older books such as Toni Morrison," said Pat Kehde, co-owner of The Raven Bookstore, 8 E. Seventh St. "As a result, older books are going out of print."
The Raven is the last independently owned seller of new books in downtown Lawrence, and Kehde said she hoped to compete with Borders because her store specializes in mystery novels and has a dedicated clientele
"We can only hope that the community will keep coming here," she said.
Borders is now in the final stage of choosing a building site, which probably will be at the corner of Seventh and New Hampshire streets, Longhurst said.